First Trailer for STRANGER THINGS 3 Shows That One Summer Can Change Everything

Trailer For SCARY STORIES TO TELL IN THE DARK Documentary

Scary Stories to Tell in the Darkwas one of my favorite books series to read when I was a kid. I freakin' love those crappy-ass stories that would keep my brothers and I up at night.

There's been a feature film adaptation of these books in the works for a few years. When the project was first announced, Saw writers Patrick Melton and Marcus Dunston were set to write the script, and then last year John August (Big Fish, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Corpse Bride) was brought on board to start from scratch on the project. Since then, there's been no other information about it.

I'm curious to see how it turns out. I have an idea on how I would make the film, but I doubt they'd go that route because it would make too much sense. I would do an animated anthology film. Basically take some of the best stories and adapt them for the big screen in the same terrifying art style from the book series. That's what I'd want to see.

While we wait to see what August's plan is for the film, there's a new documentary that's coming out that focuses on the horror book series. The doc is called Scary Stories and it is being directed by Cody Meirick.

We have a trailer for that doc for you to watch today, and it dives into the history and legacy of the book. I had such a huge impact on a generation of kids, and the film focuses on that generation of kids who fell in love with these insanely dark terrifying tales.

Scary Stories: A Documentary will explore the history and background of one of the most controversial works of modern children’s literature. In the 1980s and 1990s in elementary libraries across the United States these books developed a growing interest from boys and girls who were taken in by the gothic tales, the whimsical tone, and the ghostly illustrations. Now the Scary Stories book series stands as the most challenged children’s book of the last 30 years and a testament to the power of something that is often taken for granted: a good scary story.

The original book series was written by Alvin Schwartz and the insanely awesome illustrations were created by Stephen Gammell. Those illustrations are such a main staple of the book that it would be a shame if the movie wasn't animated in that style.

There's no word on when this documentary will come out, but we'll keep you updated on it. Enjoy the trailer!

Joey Paur
Co-Founder / Editor of GeekTyrant.com, and if you haven't noticed I write… a lot. Movies are my passion and I live and breathe all things geek. This site is part of my life's work, it's a part of me. I love what I do, and I enjoy sharing everything I can with you when it comes to movies and geekery. In my spare time I travel to the netherworlds to battle demons. @JoeyPaur | joeypaur@geektyrant.com